Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg charged with drunken driving (updated 10:50 p.m.)

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Sat Apr 13, 2013, 11:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested and charged with drunken driving overnight, the American-Statesman has learned.

According to county records, Lehmberg, 63, was arrested by Travis County deputies in Northern Travis County near RM 2222 and FM 620 and booked into the county jail shortly after 2 a.m.

An arrest affidavit was not clear whether she took a breath test. She told deputies that she had consumed two vodka drinks earlier in the evening.

Lehmberg had been released as of 8:30 a.m. today.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/travis-county-da-rosemary-lehmberg-arrested-for-dr/nXLXF/ .

[font color=green]While everyone is innocent until proven guilty, this may be a situation where early retirement is in order.[/font]

Update: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/after-drunken-driving-arrest-travis-county-da-apol/nXLp3/

[rdharma]

1. I hope she gets good legal representation!

[mbperrin]

2. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Role models should be just that.

Of course, it's easy for me to say - I've been a teetotaler since 1975.

[TexasTowelie]

3. The comments from the tea-partiers are pretty nasty.

She is a gay liberal Democrat so the hatred is rampant.

She is fortunate that the arrest wasn't in Williamson county where she would still be sitting in the drunk tank.

Her career is over.

[mbperrin]

4. That's why I'm not happy about it.

But a free pass on drunk driving? Nope.

[TexasTowelie]

5. I agree.

In the distant past I would drink a beer while drinking and I knew how alcohol affected my driving skills before finishing that first drink. Fortunately, I had the wisdom to stop after that first drink and never ran afoul of the law with a DWI.

The reports indicate that she had two vodka drinks and also had a bottle of vodka in the front seat. We don't know how impaired she was, but I'd lay odds that she had more than just two drinks. The fortunate thing about this incident is that she didn't have a wreck and nobody was injured.

Since she is in a position where she should lead by example, she should get the maxiumum fine and community service hours along with probation and UA testing. It would also be appropriate for a judge to order her into a 30-day rehab program since I think that the county would pay for it and treatment is in the interest of the public. However, she should resign after her treatment because her lack of judgment in this incident eliminates her from remaining as DA.

She had plenty of other options such as staying at a hotel or calling a cab. Driving while intoxicated was a bad decision.

[Gothmog]

6. One of my law partners is her brother

Monday is not going to be fun

[TexasTowelie]

7. Oh my goodness,

I'm sorry to hear that the news hits so close to home for another DUer. Does your firm provide representation for any criminal defense cases or is she going to look elsewhere for an attorney?

I don't know how she is going to get a fair trial in Travis county since she is so connected with the prosecutors and judges. I expect that she will have to obtain a change of venue so hopefully the case will be transferred to either Bexar, Dallas or Harris county.

As I stated earlier, it is probably the end of her career as a prosecutor. I realize the situation is delicate and you may not be able to comment, but do you have any idea as to whether she will go into private practice or possibly be included in your legal practice?

Good luck to you, your law partner and Rosemary.

[TexasTowelie]

8. It looks like we have a response by Rosemary

After drunken driving arrest, Travis County DA apologizes, says she’ll remain in office

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose weekend drunken driving arrest prompted widespread speculation about the veteran prosecutor’s future as the county’s top law enforcement official, apologized Saturday evening for her actions, said she hopes for forgiveness and plans to remain in office.

Lehmberg’s aide issued a brief statement about nine hours after she was released from the Travis County Jail early Saturday following her arrest.

“I am truly sorry to have let the citizens of Travis County down,” the statement said. “I deeply regret my actions and take full responsibility. As I continue to carry out my responsibilities as district attorney, I hope that the community will forgive my mistake.”

Lehmberg, 63, is serving her second term as district attorney and has been widely expected to retire at the conclusion of her term in December 2016.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/after-drunken-driving-arrest-travis-county-da-apol/nXLp3/ .

[Javaman]

9. According to the article in Sunday's Stateman...

she had an open bottle of vodka on the passenger seat and the policeman who needed a warrant from a Judge to perform the blood test didn't get one.

This is texas. Police get warrants all the time for this. I can bet you when he called he was denied when they found out who it was or he didn't call because of who she was.

There is a lot wrong with this and yes, she needs to retire.

I was simply amazed that she was openly talking about it on News 8 as if it was no big deal.

She knows nothing is going to happen to her.

this is what passes for law here in Texas.

If she had been anyone else, she would be still in jail awaiting release.